UConn's Title Defense Faces Test Against No. 8 Seed in NCAA Championship?
New Article:
Coach Dan Hurley's face was a picture of dismay as UConn lost to Creighton in the Big East tournament semifinals. After two consecutive NCAA tournament titles, this wasn't the start to the 2023 tournament that he had envisioned. The Huskies found themselves at a staggering 46-35 deficit at the half, a far cry from their dominant performances in the past.
Star center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who typically lights up the scoreboard, managed only four points in the opening half. The team struggled defensively, allowing Creighton to make an astounding 75% of their shots. Fortunately, UConn showed signs of life in the second half, limiting Creighton's shooting and trimming the deficit to just four points with five minutes remaining. However, Creighton earned the victory, snapping UConn's five-game winning streak.
NCAA Tournament Awaits
As the eighth seed, the Huskies (23-10) face a tough challenge in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, taking on Oklahoma (20-13). If they manage to secure a win, they would likely face Florida (30-4), the number-one seed and Southeastern Conference champions. A daunting task lies ahead, but with the right mindset, anything is possible.
UConn's consistent inconsistency this season has left many questioning their ability to upset high-seeded teams during the tournament. Hurley himself seemed bemused when asked about their chances, acknowledging the team's struggle in one-on-one defense.
"When UConn flashes on the screen, maybe the bracketologist may start saying, 'Oh,'" Hurley said. "But I think when you watch a defensive effort like the first half and you compare it to what we've been the last couple of years, where we're a very intimidating team defensively (and) on the backboard, I mean eventually they're going to pull up Synergy."
UConn: Previous Glory & Recent Struggles
The 2023 Huskies ranked third in Ken Pomeroy's adjusted offensive efficiency metric and seventh in adjusted defensive efficiency. However, they failed to live up to their preseason AP poll ranking after starters Andre Jackson, Adama Sanogo, and Jordan Hawkins left the team. Despite this, they were still expected to compete at the top due to the excellence of Hurley's recruitment and development of players.
The first hint that this season's UConn team was different emerged during the Maui Invitational in November. After an overtime loss to Memphis, a one-point loss to Colorado, and an 18-point loss against Dayton, Hurley took full responsibility for the team's poor performance. However, critics noted that the Huskies' struggles may be due to a reliance on one-on-one play rather than a united, collective effort.
The team managed to win eight consecutive games following these losses, but their performance remained inconsistent. Star freshman Liam McNeeley's injury contributed to six of their losses during a 12-game stretch. Despite floundering, UConn managed to end the Big East regular season with five straight victories, securing a berth in the conference tournament finals.
The Road to Three-Peat Begins
The loss to Creighton served as a wake-up call for UConn, who spent the weekend analyzing their performance. Hurley vowed to address the team's defensive issues and lack of teamwork, focusing on offensive execution in their upcoming matchup against Oklahoma. The game marks the beginning of the Huskies' journey to regain their championship form and potentially join elite companies like UCLA, who won seven consecutive NCAA titles from 1967 to 1973.
As the 2023 NCAA tournament commences, the eyes of the college basketball world will be on UConn. Will they rise to the challenge and rewrite history, or will they fall short in their pursuit of a third consecutive title? Time will tell as the Huskies prepare to face the Sooners in the first round. The quest for greatness awaits, and UConn's journey promises to be an exciting one.
- UConn's star center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, might not have the same scoring prowess against Florida in the NCAA tournament, given his low-scoring game against Creighton.
- In the quest for a three-peat, Liam McNeeley's impact on UConn's offense could be significant, especially if he regains his form following his injury.
- Villanova's basketball team could potentially benefit from analyzing UConn's physicality and defensive issues, hoping to capitalize on any vulnerabilities they might have, especially during the playoffs.
